Shandong bans sales of contaminated fish

CHINA - East China's Shandong Province has banned the sales of turbot containing excessive amounts of carcinogens that were purposefully fed banned chemicals by fish farmers.

Shandong, a major turbot producing area, has urged local authorities to prohibit feeding turbot and other fish banned medicines and foodstuffs in a bid to ensure food safety.

It has also called on local authorities to trace contaminated fish and crank up inspection efforts in the raising, transportation, storage and sales of turbot and other fish.

The Shanghai food and drug administration announced Friday it detected excessive residue including nitrofuran and chloromycetinin in 30 samples of turbot. The chemicals are known cancer-causing agents.

Fish markets, shopping malls, and hotels have stopped selling turbot following government warnings.